The Effet of Nifedipine on the Blood Pressure, Water and Cation Balance of the Lens in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats

In systemic hypertension, capillary resistance is highly elevated and' contractility of vascular smooth muscle is elevated. This is due to increased calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the vascular smooth muscle. Recently, nifedipine, an antihypertensive medication which inhibits calcium uptake into the vascular smooth muscle is commonly used. It decreases the contractility of the vascular smooth muscle and causes the vessels to relax, which in turn lowers the blood pressure. In 1987, according to Rodriguez-Sargent et al. the increased incidence of cataract in Dahl-salt sensitive rats(DSR) was due to increasd water and sodium contents and decreased potassium content. In this investigative study on hypertension, the water, Sodium and potassium contents in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats(SHR) were measured. After treatment with nifedipine in SHR, we observed decreased blood pressure along with the changes in water, sodium and potassium contents of the lenses. The following results were obtained from our experiments. 1. In normal SDR, The blood pressure did not decrease with nifedipine injection. 2. After 3-7 days of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR did not decrease. 3. After 2 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of the SHR decreased slightly and after 4 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR decreased significantly. 4. Water and sodium contents of SHR were higher than that of SDR and the potassium content was similar to that of SDR. 5. The elevated water and sodium contents of SHR decreased along with decrease of blood pressure, and after 2 weeks of nifedipine injection, showed similar level as the contents of SDR lenses. 6. Potassium contents of SHR lenses showed no change were similar to SDR lines except the 4 weeks nifedipine injection group which showed higher potasslum contents.

A study of microbial flora of conjunctival sac in newborns

During the period from July to August 1987, the microbial flora in conjunctival sac of 93 newborns (186 eyes: normal vaginal delivery) and 19 newborns (38 eyes: cesarean section delivery) in nursery of Ewha Womans University Hospital were investigated for isolation and identification of bacteria on delivery day and on two days after birth. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1. Of 186 eyes (normal vaginal delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 40 eyes (21.5%) on delivery day and in 64 eyes (34.4%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species shown in 10 eyes (5.4%) on delivery day and in 10 eyes (5.4%) on two days after birth. 2. Of 38 eyes (cesarean section delivery), bacterial growth of one species was shown in 2 eyes (5.3%) on delivery day and in 20 eyes (52.6%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was shown 2 eyes (5.3%) on two days after birth. 3. Several kinds of bacterial species were isolated in normal vaginal delivery and cesarean section delivery. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus were isolated.

Early Postoperative Visual Acuity and Visual Field Change Following Filtration Surgery in Advanced Glaucomatous Damaged Eyes

There has been many ophthalmologists warning sudden loss of central vision and small residual visual fields in far advanced glaucomatous damaged eyes after filtration surgery. Although this warning against glaucoma surgery in patients with limited visual fields has been a concern for over a century, little data exist to convincingly support this belief. The purpose of this paper is to share our experience in facing this dilemma. Authors performed filtration surgery on 31 eyes with advanced glaucomatous field defects and evaluated postoperative visual field and visual acuity at 8 weeks postoperatively in order to ensure if there was any change. The eyes were classified into three categories according to the severity of the visual field loss evaluated with Humphrey computerized visual field analyser. No patients suffered a sudden loss of central visual acuity or a rapidly progressive loss of small residual visual fields after filtration surgery during 8 weeks follow-up period. In the light of our clinical experiences, authers concluded that there was nothing to worry about in performing filtration surgery on far advanced glaucomatous damaged eyes just only because they have small residual visual fields.

Study of Microbial Flora of Conjunctival Sac in New Born

During the period from July to August 1987, the Microbial flora in Conjunctival Sac of 93 new borns(186 eyes; Normal Vaginal delivery) and 19 new borns(38 eyes; Cesarean Section delivery) in Nursery of EWha Woman's University Hospital had been investigated for isolation and identification of bacteria on delivered day and two days after birth. The results of the investigation are as follows: 1. Of 186 eyes(Normal Vaginal delivery) bacterial growth of one species was showed in 40 eyes(21.5%) on delivered day and in 64 eyes(34.4%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was showed in 10 eyes(5.4%) on delivered day and in 10 eyes(5.4%) on two days after birth. 2. Among the incidence of isolation of bacterial species(Normal Vaginal delivery), Staphylococcus epidermides(28 eyes; 15.1%), Escherichiae coli(26 eyes; 14.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus(6 eyes; 3.2%) were isolated on delivered day and Staphylococcus epidermidis(40 eyes; 21.5%), Escherichiae coli(27 eyes; 14.5%), Staphylococcus aureus(13 eyes; 7.0%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae(4 eyes; 2.2%) were isolated on two days after birth. 3. of 38 eyes(Cesarean Section delivery), bacteral growth of one species was showed in 2 eyes(5.3%) on delivered day and in 20 eyes(52.6%) on two days after birth. Bacterial growth of two species was showed in 2 eyes(5.3%) on two days after birth. 4. Among the incidence of isolation of bacterial species(Cesarean Section delivery), Staphylococcus epidermidis(1 eyes; 2.6%) and Escherichiase coli(1 eyes; 2.6%) were isolated on delivered day and Staphylococcus epidermidis(10 eyes; 26.3%), Esche richiae coli(8 eyes; 21.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (6 eyes; 15.8%) were isolated on two days after birth.